STE. GENEVIEVE – The historic Guibourd-Valle house was opened for public tours on March 3, 1973, by the Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve.
The Foundation will celebrate the 50th anniversary of that grand opening on March 4 and 5, 2023.
The house, located at 1 N. 4th Street, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was constructed in 1806 as the home for Jacques Guibourd, a French émigré, who had arrived in Ste. Genevieve in 1799.
The house was constructed in the poteaux sur sole (post on sill) style that was also used at the Green Tree Tavern, Bolduc House, and other vertical log houses in our town. Jules Valle, a descendant of Jean Baptiste Valle, and his wife Marie restored the house in the 1930’s.
Today, visitors can view the massive Norman trusses in the attic that support the roof. Visitors can also view the Louis XV and XVI furniture used by Marie Valle to decorate the house. After the death of Jules in 1949 and Marie in 1972, the house was given to the Foundation for Restoration and was to be opened to the public in memory of Jules.
The house will be open to the public on Saturday, March 4th and Sunday, March 5th from noon to 5 p. m. Admission on those two days is free. The first floor of the building is handicap accessible.
Please join the Foundation as it celebrates this architectural treasure and hear the stories of the house that Jacques built.